Raw Milk Seized From Minnesota Dairy Farm

The Star Tribune reports hundreds of gallons of raw milk produced by Gibbon dairy farm after a state order to stop production has been seized Tuesday by State Agriculture Department investigators.

State investigators seized cream, yogurt, cheese and meat from Mike Hartmann’s brother, Roger, along with the milk.

The state said Mike Hartmann’s dairy produced the raw milk that caused eight cases of E. coli O157:H7 in May and seven instances in July and August where stomach bugs causing diarrhea and abdominal pain were reported.

Minnesota’s Agriculture Department impounded dairy foods and other products from Hartmann’s farm and ordered him to stop selling products until unsanitary conditions in his barn were addressed. Hartmann denied the unsanitary conditions and continued to sell raw milk.

Gary Wood, executive director of the Foundation for Consumer Free Choice said there were no contamination issues with the food seized Tuesday.